GREEN BAY, WI (WTAQ-WLUK) – Murals for Packers legends Bart Starr and Ray Nitschke are planned for near or on their bridges running through downtown Green Bay.
The hope is to provide added reason to visit the area during next April’s NFL Draft and to further honor the men who helped the community beyond the field.
Artist Beau Thomas has had his eye on the backside of the Bellin Building for years, but his pitches for painting pictures on it kept being passed on.
“There was a frozen cheesehead with icicles hanging off,” said Thomas, a Green Bay native. “There was an abstract heart around the letters Green Bay. Finally the Bart Starr mural idea caught some traction.”
“We decided this is the time,” said Jenny VandenLangenberg, the director of first impressions for Downtown Green Bay, Inc. “We need to make Green Bay shine. Downtown will be a place many people will come to visit during game weekends, we know that already, and especially for the draft next year”
Downtown Green Bay, Inc. is working on a variety of public art with the help of privately raised funds awarded through Give Big Green Bay.
“We all bleed green and gold, but there’s so many more stories to be told in Green Bay as well,” said VandenLangenberg.
For example, a mural honoring the heritage of the Ho-Chunk is planned for the trail that runs under the Ray Nitschke Bridge.
On top of the bridge, the plan is for Thomas to paint a mural of Nitschke on the bridge tender tower.
“I just hope people can kind of relate to history better when they see the person who the bridge is named after,” said Thomas.
For Starr’s mural, the city’s Landmarks Commission had to provide approval because the building is in the Downtown Historic District.
City planner Steph Hummel read a letter from a nearby resident voicing opposition to the idea.
“This location would be a distraction to drivers going over the bridge and approaching a signaled light,” read Hummel. “It can cause congestion for pedestrians interfering with residential traffic coming in and out of that exit. It is also a dishonor to a great person to put it up in an alley. Signed Jerry Kluckow.”
“I think it’s just going to activate a space most people ignored or never noticed,” said Thomas. “Bringing color and art and imagery is always important to a city and hopefully we can turn this little space into a landmark.”
The Landmarks Commission agreed, unanimously approving the Starr mural.
Downtown Green Bay, Inc. still needs to get approval from the city’s public works department on the Nitschke mural.
It also wants to make sure it has legal approval for the images and the blessing of the Starr and Nitschke families.
Thomas hopes to start painting by July or August. He says each mural should take about a week.
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